Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru Oct 8: Deputy commissioner (DC) Sasikanth Senthil inaugurated 'Karnataka State Muay Thai Championship' here at Officer's Club, Lalbagh on Sunday, October 7. The championship is organised by Dakshina Kannada District Muay Thai Association and hosted by Monkey Mayhem Fight Club and Fitness Centre.

Addressing the gathering, DC Sasikanth Senthil said, "Martial art is very important in our lives as it makes a massive difference in one’s living. I wish the very best to the participants.”

National coach Balakrishna Shetty said, "Muay Thai is one of the disciplines of martial arts. This is an art of eight limbs. Knee and elbow is the lethal weapon. Muay Thai is a practical art for self-defence.”

This is the first time in and around the Dakshina Kannada and coatsal districts where the Muay Thai Association of Karnataka (MAK) hosts a grand combat sport event of this calibre.

As previously announced, MAK will be conducting the state's major Muay Thai tournament as sanctioned by the United Amateur Muay Thai Association of India (UAMAI). Through this state championship, MAK aims to select and delegate the strongest state team for the national competition at the UAMAI National Muay Thai Championship 2018 which will be held from November 14 to 18 at Pune, Maharashtra.

Karnataka State Muay Thai Championship will feature some of the highest level Muay Thai fighters from different parts of the state. MAK has an excellent history in running their annual campaigns, all of them continuously crown high-calibre champions capable of performing well for Karnataka in the national and international tournaments.

Former MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, MCC joint commissioner Gokuldas Nayak, Mandd Sobhann president Louis Pinto, honourable president Muay Thai Association of Karnataka Sadananda Shetty, president Rajgopal Rai, vice-president of District Muay Thai Association Elias Sanctis and others were present.